May 04, 2004

The Physics of the Web

Lately I have been getting increasingly interested in graph theory and also in knot theory. There is a similarity between networks and knots and it should be possible to do a mapping such that the theorems and algorithms of knot theory could be translated to apply to network topologies. I'm sure someone is already working on this, but it's worth pointing out. For example, many networks could be viewed as planar projections of knots (the shadows that knots cast on a plane). I have also been thinking about the subject of loop quantum gravity which I learned about from my friend Bram Boroson.

All of this connects to an idea that I've been thinking about lately for a new kind of discrete system for evolving topologies that I call a "loop automata" -- basically the idea is to use networks of interlinked loops as the fundamental building blocks for evolving spaces, and the dynamics within them. In my conception of a "loop automaton" the points at which loops intersect ("crossings," to use knot theory terminology) are "nodes" and the segments of loops between intersections are "arcs." So using a single construct we can have both nodes and arcs in our model. In other words we can construct graphs out of systems of interlinked loops.

Loops can have various states (a simple model might have a single valued state for the "energy" of the loop, while more complex models might deal with oscillation frequencies or even shapes of loops) The next step is to design functions on such networks of loops that modify the state of each loop based on the states of loops it intersects with (it's neighborhood). This function should govern the creation, destruction, linking and unlinking of loops, as well as the states of loops. By specifying either that all loops are fixed diameter (regardless of what other loops they intersect with) or that loops can only intersect other loops in a single point (in other words that intersecting loops are never on the same plane) then we can interpret the resulting network of loops as a space that must have one of a set of certain dimensions and shapes. This enables such a system to represent any potential space. Information propagates along such spaces as the states of loops interact, causing feedback between the topology and the energy state of space.

In such models, every pair of directly connected nodes have two arcs connecting them -- one in each direction (I assume that all loops are directed arcs that circle back on themselves endlessly). This enables information to propagate along different paths in different directions, enabling a form of "social interaction" between nodes. For example, imagine that every loop is a little clock around which a single pulse of energy is circling at some frequency. Whenever the pulse passes through an intersection point with another loop (ie. through a node) an interaction takes place between the two loops. This has the effect of modifying the state of the loop we are looking at such that as the pulse continues from that point onwards around the circumference of the loop it may have a different frequency. In other words, as the pulse goes "to" a node it has some state, and as it returns back "from" that node it may have a different state. This "back and forth message passing" takes place between directly connect loops as well as along transitive chains of loops.

Unless you spend a lot of time thinking about networks, graphs, knots, cellular automata and digital physics all of the above is probably incomprehensible. I apologize for the "rough" sketch but these are preliminary ideas at this stage. Still, from my reading on knot theory, graph theory and other related subjects I am starting to see a pattern here. Perhaps using loops as the fundamental building blocks of networks is not such a bad idea.

Twine | Nova Spivack - My Public Twine items

Radar Networks

In 1999 I flew to the edge of space with the Russian air force, with Space Adventures. I made it to an altitude of just under 100,000 feet and flew at Mach 3 in a Mig-25 piloted by one of Russia's best test-pilots. These pics were taken by Space Adventures from similar flights to mine. I didn't take digital stills -- I got the whole flight on digital video, which was featured on the Discovery Channel.

In 1999 I was invited to Russia as a guest of the Russian Space Agency to participate in zero-gravity training on an Ilyushin-76 parabolic flight training aircraft. It was really fun!!!! Among other people on that adventure were Peter Diamandis (founder of the X-Prize and Zero-G Corporation), Bijal Trivedi (a good friend of mine, science journalist), and "Lord British" (creator of the Ultima games). Here are some pictures from that trip...

People I Like

Peter F. DruckerPeter F. Drucker was my grandfather. He was one of my principal teachers and inspirations all my life. My many talks with him really got me interested in organizations and society. He had one of the most impressive minds I've ever encountered. He died in 2005 at age 95. Here is what I wrote about his death. His foundation is at http://www.pfdf.org/

Mayer SpivackMayer Spivack is my father; he's a brilliant inventor, cognitive scientist, sculptor, designer and therapist. He also builds carbon fiber trimarans in his spare time, and studies animal intelligence. He is working on several theories related to the origins of violence and ways to prevent it, new treatments for learning disabilities, and new theories of cognition. He doesn't have a Web site yet, but I'm working on him...

Marin SpivackMarin Spivack is my brother. He is the one of the only western 20th generation lineage holders of the original Chen Family Tai Chi tradition in China. He's been practicing Tai Chi for about 6 to 10 hours a day for the last 10 years and is now one of the best and most qualified Tai Chi teachers in America. He just returned from 3 years in China studying privately with a direct descendant of the original Chen family that created Tai Chi. The styles that he teaches are mainly secret and are not known or taught in the USA. One thing is for sure, this is not your grandmother's Tai Chi: This is serious combat Tai Chi -- the original, authentic Tai Chi, not the "new age" form that is taught in the USA -- it's intense, physically-demanding, fast, powerful and extremely deadly. If you are serious about Tai Chi and want to learn the authentic style and applications, the way it was meant to be, you should study with my brother. He's located in Boston these days but also travels when invited to teach master classes.

Louise FreedmanLouise specializes in art-restoration. She does really big projects like The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, The Gardner Museum and Harvard University. She's also a psychotherapist and she's married to my dad. She likes really smart parrots and she knows how to navigate a large sailboat.

Kris ThorissonKris has been working with me for years on the design of the Radar Networks software, a new platform for the Semantic Web. He has a PhD from the MIT Media Lab. He designs intelligent humanoids and virtual realities. He is from Iceland, which makes him pretty cool.

Kimberly RubinKim is my girlfriend and partner, and also a producer of 11 TV movies, and now an entrepreneur in the pet industry. She is passionate about animals. She has unusual compassion and a great sense of humor.

Kathleen SpivackKathleen Spivack is my mother. She's a poet, novelist and creative writing teacher. She was a personal student of Robert Lowell and was in the same group of poets with Silvia Plath, Elizabeth Bishop and Anne Sexton. She coaches novelists, playwrites and poets in France and the USA. She teaches privately and her students, as well as being published, have won many of the top writing prizes.

Josh KirschenbaumJosh is a visual effects whiz, director and generalist hacker in LA. We have been pals and collaborators since the 1980's. Josh is probably going to be the next Jim Cameron. He's also a really good writer.

Joey TamerJoey is a long-time friend and advisor. She is an expert on high-tech strategic planning.

Jim WissnerJim is among the most talented software developers I've ever worked with. He's a prolific Java coder and an expert on XML. He's the lead engineer for Radar Networks.

Jerry MichalskiI have been friends with Jerry for many years; he's been advising Radar Networks on social software technology.

Chris JonesChris is a long-time friend and now works with me in Radar Networks, as our director of user-experience. He's a genius level product designer, GUI designer, and product manager.

Bram BorosonBram is an astrophysicist and college pal of mine. We spend hours and hours brainstorming about cellular automata simulations of the universe. He's one of the smartest people I ever met.

Bari KoralBari Koral is a really talented singer songwriter. We co-write songs together sometimes. She's getting some buzz these days -- she recently opened for India Arie. She worked at EarthWeb many years ago. Now she tours almost all year long and she just had a hit in Europe. Check out her video, on her site.

Adam CohenAdam Cohen is a long-term friend; we were roommates in college. He is a really talented composer and film-scorer. He doesn't have a Web site but I like him anyway! He's in Hollywood living the dream.